THE PRAIRIE-DOG TOWN 



eastern man? One who could tell him of home, 

 the latest books, or other topics. Had he a wife 

 or daughter ? The thought of seeing one of the 

 gentler sex from his own social rank caused a 

 blush to spread over his bronzed face and far into 

 his hair. It had been three years since Sam 

 had seen a white woman. The little prairie-dogs 

 were all attention as the wagon drew near and 

 Sam thought of their happy, social lives and 

 compared it with his own hermit existence. Why 

 was it his thoughts went back to his college 

 chum ? How they had unfortunately both loved 

 the same girl ! There was a misunderstanding 

 between himself and the young lady. She had 

 married his chum. Sam looked up as the wagon 

 stopped. The delicate features of a sad-faced 

 woman peered out from under a calico sunbon- 

 net and by her side sat a chubby little girl of 

 three summers. The little girl admired the 

 string of bluish rattles and made friends at once 

 with Sam by begging permission to just hold 

 them. Sam helped the tired travelers to his 

 dugout to rest and refresh themselves and the 

 horses with a good meal and a cool drink. The 

 water was most welcome for they had been travel- 

 [67] 



